01 Choose the work that matters
A faster draft does not decide which customer problem deserves your time.
Startup interview prep when AI can build the first version
Choose useful work. Explain the trade-off. Stay close to the result.
Choose your first weekWhat companies say they’re looking for
02 Find the problem behind the request
“Make sure the things they've built are being used” (opens the source)
Separate repeated voices from independent needs, then test the smallest useful response.
03 Own the outcome and the boundary
Act on what you can fix and make the remaining owner, evidence and next check explicit.
04 Show what you checked
“Quality is a choice we can make every day.” (opens the source)
Use AI within the stated rules and explain the decisions in the work you submit.
05 Pass on the reason for the work
“I just need it to aggregate context so I can make an informed decision.” (opens the source)
Give the next person the customer need, decision and unresolved question.
Sources
- Joel Gascoigne, Founder and CEO, at the time. Joel Gascoigne, “Post — November 1, 2026”, Nov 1, 2026. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
- James Hawkins, Co-founder, writing about PostHog’s product engineers, at the time. PostHog — Product for Engineers, “The deadline doom loop”, Jan 9, 2025. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
- Benjamin Encz, Co-founder and CEO, at the time. Ashby, “Ashby’s Leadership Principles”, Aug 29, 2025. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
- Karri Saarinen, Co-founder and CEO, at the time. Linear, “Why is quality so rare?”, May 27, 2025. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
- Isha Kumar, Product Designer, at the time. Designer Fund, “How tech’s most craft-obsessed team uses AI: Inside design at Linear”, Aug 12, 2026. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
Last reviewed Nov 10, 2026